Ex-worker sues Vineland Historical Society

Lawsuit was filed under a state 'whistle-blower' law

Apr. 30, 2013

Kate Nolan

Written by

VINELAND — A civil lawsuit against the Vineland Historical & Antiquarian Society claims its leaders fired an employee after she reported its president appeared to be selling artifacts and not giving the proceeds to the society.

Ex-employee Kate Nolan also alleges society officers distributed personal images of her that were “intimate in nature” that she had stored on her work laptop at one time.

Nolan had deleted the images and other personal information before returning the machine to the society after she was suspended from her job, but the society recovered them by hiring someone to examine the hard drive, according to her attorney.

Amari, an attorney who also is Vineland’s public defender, responded to the lawsuit with a statement on behalf of the society and other defendants.

“Essentially, the complaint filed is one for wrongful termination, which, when all the facts shall become known, will be found to be without merit,” Amari stated. “The complaint includes, also, allegations relating to the state whistle-blower statute, a not uncommon occurrence in actions for wrongful termination, which, likewise, when all the facts shall become known, will be found to be without merit.”

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Amari said some materials not pertinent to the museum’s collection or local history have been removed but in a way “consistent with best practices of museums and historical societies.”

“Given that I have particular knowledge and expertise regarding antiquarian books, manuscripts and art, the board of trustees had designated me as the individual assigned the task of seeing to it that any materials to be de-accessioned be handled in such manner, as deemed by the board, to be in the best interests of the society, a task which I have taken seriously and have fulfilled to the best of my ability,” Amari stated. “This process has not been undertaken without full disclosure; in fact, it has been expressly noted in prior issues of the Society’s annual magazine.

“As an attorney, it is with some frequency that I advise clients that in the world in which we live, ‘anyone can sue anyone for any thing, however frivolous or baseless the claim,’” he added. “Unfortunately, the Vineland Historical Society and the individuals named now face that very same situation.”

Nolan joined the society in June 2008 as an intern. She was hired in June 2010 under a two-year contract to do archival work and artifact preservation, the suit states.

The suit states Amari and Marone did not want her to “examine, organize and catalog artifacts,” which Nolan claims was part of her job.

“Plaintiff came to discover that Defendant Amari had engaged in the sale of artifacts belonging to the Society on eBay and other websites and that the funds so realized were not deposited into the Society’s treasury,” the suit alleges.

Nolan asserts she informed Marone of her findings and he assured her nothing improper had happened, but indicated he would investigate.

“Following her conversations with Marone she was instructed by Amari not to continue to catalog the society’s artifacts,” the complaint states. “Shortly thereafter, Defendant Amari informed her that she was not properly performing her job and he was going to fire her.”

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Nolan claims Amari would not allow her to address the board of trustees to defend herself. Door locks were changed to keep her out, and a note was left on a door telling her she was suspended, the suit states.

Nolan was suspended from her position, apparently sometime in early September 2010, although the suit does not specify. She was fired in late December of that year, according to suit.

At the point the society locked its doors, the dispute became public knowledge. Amari explained then that trustees were trying to resolve an unspecified personnel matter.

Ed Conrow, a city councilman and a society member at the time, organized members to protest the action. Conrow previously had dated Nolan, who then used the last name “Harbold.”

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